Yo! MTV Raps

Yo! MTV Raps is the classic MTV show that brought Hip-Hop and Rap Music to the whole country in the 80's and 90's. Hitting the airwaves in 1988, Yo! MTV Raps played hip hop music videos and had guests like the legendary Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Run-DMC. A force for hip hop, the show brought the new genre of music to people across the country who weren't aware of the urban movement. Hosted by Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover, and Doctor Dre, and was one of the highest rated MTV shows of the time. The original series aired until 1995, when it was closed out with a freestyle cipher featuring legendary artists like Salt-N-Pepa, who also appeared on the first episode of the series. With moments like Ol' Dirty Bastard's drunk freestyle and Tupac Shakur's admitting that he assaulted filmmakers the Hughes Brothers, Yo! MTV Raps captured some of the most important moments and artists of old school rap, and launched the young genre into an international favorite. MORE